SANTORINI BEYOND THE CROWD
When I was planning my trip to Santorini I didn’t have a clear idea of what to do, apart from the obvious OIA.When I got there, it was very crowded and after two days, I was fed up. In this Santorini Beyond the Crowd post I will share my amazing finds and recommendations.
SANTORINI BEYOND THE CROWD
1.- CATAMARAN CRUISE
Experience Santorini’s beauty, hot springs, and beaches on a catamaran cruise. We were skeptical about this tour, but it was amazing and worth every penny. It cost around $170 euros p/p including hotel pick up, drinks, and dinner.
You can select a daytime or sunset cruise (which we did). We got picked up at our hotel at around 1:00 PM, got to the port, and sailed around the island and caldera (flooded volcanic crater) on a deluxe catamaran. We then stopped to bathe in the Nea Kameni springs where we swam, snorkeled or unwinded and then, we enjoyed complimentary Santorini wine and Greek beer, plus a Greek meal prepared on board.
We saw many beautiful sunsets, but nothing compared to the one onboard this cruise. It was small group of around 15 people. The crew on board had the best service ever. We ended up at out beautiful hotel Marizan cave & villas in the Jacuzzi over more Greek wine. This was one of the highlights of our trip beyond the crowd.
2.- GET A RENTAL
A lot of friends recommended me to rent a car or a four wheel but I was not sold. The last day at Santorini, we decided to do it because our flight was departing at midnight and what a great idea it was. It was around 40 euros and we were able to explore a lot; I highly recommend this option for at least 2 days.
Having your own vehicle will make your stay in Santorini much easier. You will be able to move around at your own pace and discover hidden and less touristy spots.
Lastly, if you want to spend most of the time of your stay in a caldera village, you can opt-in for a car rental for a short period in order to discover specific locations you are interested in visiting.
You can select where and what time you want the car to be delivered to you – either at your hotel, the airport, or the ferry port of Santorini.
The car category is B, which includes small city cars with 4 doors, a mechanic manual gearbox, and of course, air-conditioning and basic insurance.
The driver of the car must be aged between 21 and 65 years old and must provide a valid credit card.
At the end of the rental, we left the car at the airport (you can arrange the spot and time for drop off). At the time of return, you must load the car with the same level of gasoline as when you received it.
3.-FTELOS BREWERY
FTELOS Brewery is an experience that any beer aficionado should not miss!
The place is beautiful with indoor and outdoor seating with an amazing view of Santorini. It includes a themed restaurant and several tapas bars, where you can taste a variety of Mediterranean dishes and tapas, perfectly paired with the refreshing FTELOS beers or cocktails beer. If you are a beer lover, then you will surely enjoy the fun and educational tour in their facilities.
Located in Karterados, Santorini, a 4.800 sq. meters modern space (on a lot exceeding 7.200 sq. meters in total)
Their menu is diverse, really good, and the perfect sizes to share. I also find that their prices are good compared with other snatorini places.
4.-archaeological site of Akrotiri
Santorini island is a lot more that beautiful sunsets. It also has a great history and a good way to learn more is by visiting Akrotiri archaeological site.
Akrotini was a Cycladic Bronze Age settlement on the volcanic Greek island of Santorini (Thera).
The settlement was destroyed in the Theran eruption sometime in the 16th century BC[1] and buried in volcanic ash, which preserved the remains of fine frescoes and many objects and artworks. Akrotiri has been excavated since 1967 after earlier excavations on Santorini.
The extensive ruins of this Bronze Age settlement have been enclosed within a substantial structure. With walkways that enable visitors to walk among the excavated section of the Minoan port town, covered in volcanic ash in the 16th century. The site is away from the main tourist spots -beyond the crowd- of the island.
Entry $16
5.-RED BEACH
The volcanic eruptions led to the formation of this beautiful site that is visited by many tourists every year. Its surroundings of enormous volcanic rocks, the black and red pebbles, and the sand of various colors -mainly red- compose a wild scenery that attracts all the visitors.
Its rock formations and its interesting marine life make the beach also ideal for snorkeling lovers. It is near the famous Akrotiri Excavations site and just a 20-minute drive from Fira town. Apart from easily reaching it by car, you can also visit it by bus from Fira or by boat, through boat tours that run every day and cruise along the most prominent parts of Santorini.
In my opinion it is a place you have to visit and get it out of your list, but it was a beach that I wouldn’t stay and swim in. If you decide to do so, make sure you have dark colored swimsuits, towels and shoes.
6.- Akrotiri Lighthouse
The Lighthouse was built in 1892 by a French trading company and it is considered a very important site, as it is one of the first lighthouses that were manufactured in Greece. During the first 100 years, it was powered by petrol fuel and there was a person in charge of running it manually, before 1893, when it got connected to electricity. It stopped operating during World War II, until 1945 when it was reconstructed by the Greek Navy.
The Lighthouse of Akrotiri is one of the most spectacular places in Santorini, with unique views and a romantic atmosphere!
We couldn’t access the lighthouse, but the place is beautiful and perfect to take the most amazing pictures without the crowd. The locals said that the most spectacular sunset view of Santorini Island is here with a magnificent view of the red sun diving into the Aegean Sea, creating a unique romantic atmosphere that takes your breath away.
This scenic Lighthouse is situated in the lovely and tranquil village of Akrotiri, on the edge of a high cliff right above the sea. It is 5 kilometers away from the center of the village and a 26-minute drive from Fira Town. There is no direct bus to the site, as the buses that start from Fira bus station, only reach the center of Akrotiri village. Therefore, the easiest way of visiting the place is by car or taxi.
7.-KAMARI VILLAGE 
It was our last few hours in Santorini before taking a plane back to Athens and then Los Angeles and we visted all the recommendations of the most beautiful villages like Oia, Fira, Imerovigli, and more, but why did no one tell me about Kamari?
We love this Villa, and we were so sad to not be able to spend more time here. Kamari is a cosmopolitan beach resort on the south east of Santorini, which has been awarded the Blue Flag. The long stretch of beach lies under the impressive mountain of Mesa Vouno. The water is deep and blue, and the sand is black.
A stone-paved promenade for strolling that runs parallel to the beach stretches across the crescent moon shaped bay. This is closed off to traffic during the summer months.
Kamari offers a wealth of cafes, bars, restaurants, shops and supermarkets, as well as a lively nightlife. The beach is organize with sun beds, umbrellas, water sports and diving.
The ambiance here was great, so chick, so many options and the best price of all Santorini. If you are in Santorin, either make this your beach day destination or get dressed and go party at night – or both. Just before Kamari you will find an open air summer cinema that is also very popular.
Distances: from Fira town : 9 kilometers, there are regular service to some villages.
History: Ancient Thira Settlement – Mesa Vouno
Santorini Island is much more that just Oia, which is wonderful, but as beautiful as it is, it is also full of people making it very crowded and your idea to see a beautiful sunset or take that breathtaking picture may not be posible. The good news is that Santorini is beautiful from start to finish, go beyond the crowd and enjoy your vist to the fullest. I hope this post helps 🙂